[Knofbath]

I just started fooling around with this game over the weekend, and I'm having problems figuring out a good control scheme.

Played most of fsport using the mouse, but its a bit too much arm work to take on tough enemies like dragon's reliably. I've got a Logitech Dual Action gamepad, and I'm trying to figure out a good control scheme for it.

So far I've got:
 Left stick: Pitch / Yaw (Had to dumb down the sensitivity a bit for this)
 Right Stick: Relative throttle / Bank
 X: Primary
 O: Secondary
 Tri: Chaff
 Square: Equalize shields
 Select: Change Missiles
 Start: Re-arming
L1 Reverse Trust
R1 Afterburner
L2/R2 Bank again

POV is set to targeting: Target,Hostile,Bombs, and Subsystems

I guess what I need is to know what I'm missing. I've got Banking doubled up because I can't decide which way I want to use it, and its pretty redundant anyway. And both L3/R3 are unused at this point.

[General Battuta]

I play entirely with keyboard. Pretty reliable unless you lack a numpad on your keyboard. A lot of the old multiplayer elites went keyboard-only.

[Mongoose]

When I fooled around a bit with a PlayStation controller config, I think I had primaries and secondaries set to two of the trigger buttons, since they were easier to access while using the sticks.  I did have the two sticks laid out the same way as you, though, since that seems to be the best way to do it.  If you go the trigger route, you could use the other two (say L1/R1) for cycling primaries and secondaries.  The rest is really just a matter of personal choice; you can lay out the more commonly used targeting commands (hostile, bombs, subsystems, and reticule are probably a must) on some of the remaining face buttons and/or D-pad, as well as odd things like countermeasures and shield equalizing.  I don't know how well it'd work, but maybe you could try afterburner on R3, since you're already using that for throttle anyway.

(Also, keyboard-only configs are lame.  You're flying a spaceship, not typing a Word document. )

[Kolgena]

I use keyboard/mouse since I lack a numpad. It works fine if you crank mouse sensitivity.

[SypheDMar]

I use a left-handed mouse and a keypad. Works exceptionally well.

[Pred the Penguin]

You should try some of the more maneuverable ships in Wings of Dawn if you haven't already, it's like playing a FPS.

Keyboard for me most of the time too, I never got used to my Saitek Evo.

[Knofbath]

I spent a little time looking at console sims for a template, but there isn't really anything comparable. The sheer number of available commands really puts the hurt on a 12 button setup.

Colony Wars was the closest thing I could think of, so that's what I had modeled my setup on originally. I'm probably gonna try it with weapons on the right triggers, and boost/brake on the left.

Target reticule is probably the one I missed, but I haven't been using it much with the keyboard/mouse combo. I also thought about putting wingman orders on the pad, but I couldn't justify using the buttons on them.

If I play the game long enough I may try the transition to full keyboard, but I have no intention of buying a joystick.

[QuantumDelta]

Keyboard only, 'cept for very fine long ranged aiming, which is done with the mouse.

You just don't NEED anything else, the joystick can surpass it, but only certain ones, and they're damn hard to find.

[Mongoose]

True, you don't need anything else, but I think the intangibles of immersion far outweigh any downsides that my current stick may provide.  Plus, some of us have keyboards that can't handle more than three keypresses at once, which would kind of put a damper on that sort of config.

[QuantumDelta]

Immersion my ass, anything with a deadzone completely breaks immersion, and anything not using max sense is terrible.

Throttle control is the only advantage most joysticks have over the keyboard, and, lets be honest, a joystick isn't how ships that advanced is going to be flown.

[Knofbath]

Sigh... and my thread gets hijacked by the joystick vs keyboard argument.

I had to knock down the sensitivity on my gamepad just so that I can get and hold the pipper over target, otherwise the best I can do is lob missiles all day. And missiles seem to get less useful the further you get in game.

[Mongoose]

Immersion my ass, anything with a deadzone completely breaks immersion, and anything not using max sense is terrible.

Bullplop.  Deadzone has absolutely no impact on my immersion either way.  What does, however, is being able to squeeze a trigger, push a throttle forward, or fling my joystick all over the place.  It's a sight better than playing hunt-and-peck in space.

Throttle control is the only advantage most joysticks have over the keyboard, and, lets be honest, a joystick isn't how ships that advanced is going to be flown.

So what, you think they'll be using Star Trek's goofy various touchpads instead?  Tom Paris had the right idea when he fitted out the Delta Flyer with honest-to-goodness control yokes.

Er...sorry about this, Knofbath. If it gets any more out-of-hand, I'll split the posts out into a new thread.

(Though technically Battuta started it. )

[QuantumDelta]

Nope, neither, Neural

[Mongoose]

Well that's even more boring.  You could fly your ship while having a wank.

...wait...

[ssmit132]

Zero gravity while wearing a normal suit is hardly the ideal situation for such a thing.

[Shivan Hunter]

Sigh... and my thread gets hijacked by the joystick vs keyboard argument.

I wish I could give you some actual help on the control mappings, but I just use a keyboard/mouse so I don't even know the layout of those things.

The least I can do, however, is give a good hearty "on-topic or GTFO" to the mentally-ill baboons hijacking the thread. Seriously people, if you don't want to be helpful just start another thread. I'm normally not presumptuous enough to try to do the mods' jobs for them but the stupidity threshold in here is much higher than usual.

[Knofbath]

Layout is pretty much a PS2 clone, only difference is instead of a d-pad its got a POV hat switch.

I did some searching through the forum for previous topics on this issue, but it seems like every one seems to get hijacked by keyboard vs joystick at some point, along with a smattering of people just stating that they use this or that.

Closest thing I found were the topics on the 360 controllers, but those setups don't fit the layout on this gamepad.

[QuantumDelta]

Well, I still seriously believe you will be severely limiting yourself, but..

Important **** to bind;

Brake, Afterburner, Primary fire, Secondary Fire, Shield Management (use the D-Pad), Countermeasures(I guess..), Target in Reticle or Next Hostile Target, Equalise Shields, and target nearest Bomb(er).

It's 12 buttons and should just about get you by..

[Wobble73]

I use a PS2 controller, let me see if I can remember my set up off the top of my head.

Left control stick = pitch & yaw
Right control stick = bank & throttle
D-pad = POV

Triangle = Primary bank
Circle = secondary bank
Square = Counter Measures
X = Target nearest hostile

L1 = Target in reticule
R1 = Target your attacker
R2 = Afterburner
L2 = Another targetting button, (can't remember which?)